Selective machine



7 March 30, 1943.

ZJ. FosTos SELECTIVE MACHINE Filed Oct. 8, 1941- INVENTOR. J'aH/v Fosros ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 30, 1943 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in selective machines and more particularly to pneumatic means for segregating designated units.

Among the objects of the invention is to select a unit with an unpredictable designation there-' ongfrom a floating group of similar units.

Another object is the provision of a machine in this class, capableof making such a selection free from manual and extraneous interference.

Another object is the provision of maximal visibility of all the units during the period of selection.

Further objects and advantages will appear as the description progresses.

In this specification and the accompanying drawing the invention is disclosed in its preferred form. But it is to be understood that it is not limited to this form, because it may be embodied in modifications within the spirit of the invention as defined in the claims following the description.

In the one sheet of drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front view in vertical section of a selective machine made in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the upper portion of the same.

1 Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail in front view of the ball trap and manual ball discharging assembly in vertical section.

Fig. 4 is a side view of the same in vertical section.

In detail the construction illustrated in the drawings, referring first to Fig. 1, comprises the base ring I encircling the edges of the vertical panels 2, 3, 4, to give stability to the base structure. The casters such as 5, 6, l, are attached to the frames of their respective panels to give mobility to the machine. Three panels are preferred because this structure gives lateral stability, and the three point support of the casters automatically adjusts itself to any unevenness in the plane of the floor upon which it stands.

The motive mechanism is enclosed within the cylindrical casing 8 fixed to the supporting structure 2-4. This casing has the encircling hand rail 9, and the reinforcing rings ill. I I, which give stability to the casing. The casing has the flat top plate 12 attached thereto beneath the flange of the ring H. Ihe reticulate screens I3, [4 are interposed between the base panels 24 and the top plate 12, respectively.

In the present instance the superstructure comprises four upright glass panes l5, l6, l1, l8, supported by a suitable framework, such as 19, attached at the bottom to the top plate l2. This rectangular structure has the surrounding top frame 20. This frame is surmounted by the reticulate dome 2 I, preferably composed of expanded metal mesh or the like, best adapted to the passage of the air blast with the least obstructive material. The dome curves upwardly to the ball trap outlet collar 22, hereinafter more fully desponding to 24, is not shown. These panes are so arranged that the, panes I5, I! complete the rectangular lateral bays. These bays have the enclosing frames 29, 30, respectively, supported by the top plate l2 at the bottom, and surmounted by the top frames 3|, 32, respectively.

Each of these top frames have upwardly curved domes 33, 34, respectively, with the ball trap outlet collars 35, 36. at their tops. The whole superstructure, including thelateral bays, is fully open at the bottom screen l4 and at the top domes 2|, 33, 34, permitting an unobstructed passage of the air blast through the screen l4 and the several compartments A, B, C. The lateral bays being of less capacity than the center compartment, may be made shorter, as in Fig. 1, which improves the general appearance of the machine.

" The structural details shown in the drawings have been specifically described; but this structure may be modified in capacity and appearance to meet various conditions.

The air blast is created within the casing 8, between the screens l3, M, in any suitable manner. The means shown consists of the motor 31, suspended Within the casing by the transverse strut 38. The motor is connected through the electric cable 39 with a source of power in V the conventional manner. The propeller or fan 40 is driven by the motor shaft 4|, creating a suction through the screen [3, which prevents loose paper or the like, entering the casing. The forced draft of the propeller passes forcibly upward through the screen M and the superstruc- These balls are composed of thin plasforced air draft passing through the superstructure.

The ball traps at 22, 35, 35, at the tops of the several domes are alike in structure and mode of operation and it is deemed sufiicient to describe but one in detail, see Figs. 3, 4. The top of the dome is provided with a center opening surrounded by the flanged collar such as 22. The annular ring 45, slightly larger than the diameter of the balls, is spaced Within the collar by the struts such as 46. The top ring 41 is supported by the standards 48, t9, fixed to the lower ring 45. The arcuate guards 55, 5|, are attached to the ring 4'! intermediate the upper and lower rings to form as a whole, a cage for retaining the selected ball therein.

A pair of counterbalanced trips 52, 53, are respectively pivoted at 54, 55, on the collar 22; so that their inner ends 56, 51, normally rest upon the ring 55 and extend into the path of the ball. These trips are accurately counterbalanced to present practically no resistance to the upward passage of the ball into the trap, but prevent its descent.

The top of the trap is closed by the counterbalanced handle 58, pivoted at 59, to the top ring which it extends across. This handle has the lifter 60 extending downwardly and terminating on the line and out of the upward path of the ball, and transverse to the ends 56, 51.

The balls can be loaded into and returned to their respective compartments by lifting the handle '58, dropping the ball into the trap and depressing the trips 52, 5.3, permitting the balls to drop through the bottoms of the traps, see dotted lines in Figs. 3, 4.

This invention operates substantially as follows: When current is switched into the motor 31 the forced draft created by the propeller 40 causes the mass of balls to rise or levitate in the central compartment A, and the bays B, C, within which they buoyantly gyrate and impact with one another until a few rise to the under sides of their respective domes 2 '33, '34. Those balls contacting the undersides of the domes nest together and move gently around until one ball alines with the opening through the collar such as 22. The annular air blast between the collar and the ring 45 tends to center the ball under the ends 55, '51, which it lifts and passes into the trap under the retaining handle 58. The ball is removed from the trap by manually lifting the handle 58, which swings the lifter beneath the ball to elevate it out of the trap.

This invention is applicable for determining values in many ways, especially for selecting the winner of premium gifts. For such an application about one hundred white balls consecutively numbered are placed in the center compartment A. Colored. balls bearing the letters of the alphabet are placed in the bay B. And variously colored balls bearing percentage or other values are placed in the bay C.

The motor is run until all the traps on the compartments A, B, C, contain a ball. The motor is then stopped andv the several balls removed from the traps.

Should the selected ball from B, bear the letter H, and the white ball bear the numeral 25, and the percentage ball from C the designation 50%, the player holding the coupon marked H25 would win 50% of the prize.

Having thus described this invention what is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A selective machine having a vertical compartment with a bottom and cover and containing a plurality of buoyant balls; a cage arranged above an opening in said cover and having the capacity to retain one of said balls; trips pivoted adjacent said cage and having yielding ends extending into the path of said ball and adapted to retain it within said cage; a handle pivoted on said cage and normally lying across thetop of said cage and having a lifter adapted to extend beneath and elevate said ball when said handle is lifted; and means for creating a draft upwardly through said compartment beneath said balls.

2. A selective machine having a vertical compartment with a bottom and cover and. adapted to hold a plurality of buoyant balls; a cage arranged above an opening in said cover and having the capacity to retain one of said balls; trips pivoted adjacent said cage and having ends extending into the path of said ball and adapted to retain it within said cage; a pivotally mounted handle having a portion positioned to extend beneath and elevate said ball when said handle is rocked on its pivot; and means for creating a draft upwardly through said compartment.

JOHN FOSTOS. 

